Hydraulic engine



E. A. THOMPSON.

HYDRAULIC ENfilNE. APPLICATION man JAN-14,1915. RENEWED JUNE 16, 1919.

- Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- E. A. THOMPSON.

HYDRAULIC ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. I4, 1915. RENEWED JUNE I6, 1919.

1,328,974. Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SI1EET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()EFIGE.

EARL A. THOMPSON, OF GRESHAM, OREGON.

HYDRAULIC ENGINE.

Application filed January 14, 1915, Serial No. 2,297.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL A. THoMPso v, a citizen of the United States, residing in the town of Gresham, county of Multnomah,

and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to hydraulic engines, and more particularly to an engine mechanism adapted to be connected to a source of water supply having more or less pressure, or head, and to be operated thereby for the purpose of raising water from the same or from another source to a higher level.

Among the salient objects of my inventions are,to provide in a machine of the character referred to a pilot valve, and a main valve, cooperating to control the admission of the water alternately to the opposite ends of a main cylinder for operating a plunger adapted to force the water to the place of delivery; to provide in a machine of the character referred to a construction in which said valves are absolutely balanced. no matter what the pressure of the water may be; to provide in such a machine means for regulating the pressure operating the main valve, so that its action will be uniform, and not too quick, thus reducing the chance for water hammer; to provide in such a machine controlling valves so arranged that they cannot be disturbed by any water hammer due to the inertia of the water; to provide in a machine of the character referred to a' construction in which the pilot valve will be disconnected from the main cylinder during the reversing of the main valve, and thereby eliminating any possibility of water hammer that might be caused by the reversing of the main valve and result in throwing the valves out of time; to provide in a machine of the character referred to means for regulating the area of the operating chamber for the main valve pistons. whereby it is possible to maintain the efiiciencv of the valve when the machine is operating with either a high or a low head of water, for the reason that the valve, being balanced, rcouires t e s me amount of power to'opcrate it rennwlless of the pressure; to provide a machine of the characte referred to with no dead center; to provide in such a machine amp e passageways and ea y Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

Renewed June 16, 1919. Serial No. 30 L729.

turns for the water; to provide a machine derstand my invention, I have shown in the accompanying sheets of drawings, one practical embodiment thereof which I will now describe.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hydraulic engine embodying my invention with the gate valve connection thereto omitted;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view thereof through the main cylinder;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the machine;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4 4; of Fig. 5, with valve removed;

Fig. 5 is an end view with a part shown in vertical section, as on line 5-5 of Fi 3; and 1 Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the main valve casing taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, I have shown two supporting base members 11. for the body of the device which comprises a main cylinder 2, connected at its opposite ends with two plunger cylinders as 3 and 4E, each terminating at its outer end in a double turn, as 3 and t. which are connected together along the opposite sides of the main c linder 2 by pipe sections, 5, 6, 7 and 8. The pipe secwith check valves 10 and 11. adapted to permit the flow of water f om said pipe.

sections 5 and 6 into sai do ble turns 3 and 45* and into the c linders .3 and 4. and to prevent the flow of water in the o osite direction. The pi e sect ns 7 and 8 a e also connected at their adiacent ends with a T, 12. ada ted to be connected to a delivery pipe for ca r ng the water to the desired location. Said pipe sections 7 and 8 are also provi ed with Check valves 3- and 14:. adapted to permit the How of wa er from the double turnsB and 4t outwardly through the T, 12, but to revent its flow in the opposite direction. orking in the main cylinder 2 is a piston 2 with a double plunger 2" and 2, extended into and worklng within theplunger cylinders3 and 4, respectively, through suitable packing members, 2 and 2, admstable from the outside, at will, by means of bolts 3'-3' and 44.

Abe've said main cylinder 2, is a main valve cylinder 15, Fig. 1, havin a main in letwpeninglfi at one side thereo adapted to be eonnected with a water su ply having more or less pressure or head said inlet openin leading into a water space 17, Figs. 31nd in the double wall structure of said cylinder, and extending in both directions and 'upwa-rdiy, and at the ends of said main valve c lindercommunicating with the main valve c amber 18 therein, and through passageways 19 and 20, from the opposite ends ofthe main valve chamber 18, to the opposite ends of the main cylinder 2, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3.

'The opposite'ends of said main valve cylinder 15 are provided with detachable heads 15 -15"-,' as indicated, affording easy access to the main valve chamber 18, and the main vahm'member A, mounted to move longitudinally within said main valve chamber 18, said main valve member comprising a plurality of valve member istons A A", A, A, A, and A, contro ing different assagewa ys through the main valve cham er.

have said main valve cylinder 15, is a ilot valve cylinder 21, having detachable eads 21-21 at'its opposite ends, to afford access to a pilot valve chamber 22, Fig. 3, and-a pilot valve B, mounted to reciprocate longitudinally therein, and comprising a plurality of connected valve pistons B B, B and B.

Mounted upon said main valve cylinder 15, at the entrance 16 thereof, is a gate valve 23, Fig 5, Having its bonnet 23" connected means of a pipe 24 to the pilot valve 0 amber 22,with a regulating valve 25 interposed in said pi e 24. Leading from the main chamber 0? said gate valve 23, and outside of the gate thereof, 'into the bonnet 23" 'is a pass port 23", as shown in 'Fig. 5, whereby'to'supply water through the bonnet 23, the pipe 24, and through the pilot valvechamber '22, in the middle thereof, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5, for operating the main valve A, as hereinafter described.

mm the main-cylinder 2, Fig. 3, are two passageways, 26'and 26, leading upwardly ilito the main valve chamber 18. From the main valve-chamber 18, leading upwardly, amtvm cmrtinuing passageways 27 and 28, lbading'into the opposite endsof the pilot valve chamber 22, whereby to alternately connect said main cylinder 2 with the opposite ends oi? said pilot valve chamber 22. From the middle portion of the pilot valve chamber 22 are two other passageways 29 and 30, leading downwardly into the middle portion of the main valve chamber 18, and discharging thereinto at opposite sides of a middle artition member 31, which divides said main valve cylinder into two chambers. The partition member 31 is constructed to be removed and is interchangeable in order that .different sleeve or connecting spindles, as 32, smaller or larger, can be used upon the shaft of the main valve member A, whereby to reduce or increase the area of the chambers at either side of said partition member 31, and between it and the valve pistons A or A The valve pistons A and A are adapted to be moved, respectively across the passageways 27 and 28, leading into the main valve chamber 18, whereby to determine which of said passageways is to be opened to communicate through passageways 26 or 26 with the main cylinder 2, from which the pilot valve above is alternately moved in its chamber 22 to alternately open passageways 29 and 30 into communication with the inlet 24. Main valve pistons A and A, at the opposite ends of the main valve chamber 18 are adapted to control the communication of the mam inlet space 17, which extends from the main inlet 16. Figs. 3 and 4, to both ends of the main valve chamber, with the passageways 19 and 20, leading down into the opposite ends of the main cylinder 2. From the main valve chamber 18, passageways, 33 and 34, Figs. 3 and 4, lead from near the opposite ends of said main valve chamber to a main discharge outlet 35, from the opposite side of said main valve cylinder 15, the passageway 33 communicating with the passageway 19, between valve pistons A and A and the passageway 34 communicating with the passageway 20, between valve pistons A and A, whereby to alternately connect said passageways 19 and 20, leading from the opposite ends of the main cylinder 2, with the outlet passageways 33 and 34, leading to the main outlet 35.

The pilot valve B is provided with valve pistons B and B, at its opposite ends, by means of which said valve B is moved lon 1- tudinally in opposite directions within t e pilot valve chamber 22, by water admitted through passageway 27 or passageway 28, as the case may be, from the main cylinder 2, which communicates therewith through the passageways 26' and 26. respectively, according to the position of the main valve member A. Said pilot valve B is also provided with valve pistons B and B, which are adapted to alternately control the inflow either through passageway 29 or 30, to the opposite sides of the partition member 31 of the main valve chamber 18. for the urpose of moving said main valve member in op posite directions.

It will, therefore, be observed that the inflow of water through the by-pass or port 23*, leading through the bonnet 23 of the gate valve 23, and the pipe 24:, and through the pilot valve chamber to passageways. 29 or 30, as controlled by said pilot valve, opcrates to move the main valve A in opposite directions, for the purpose of directing the inflow through the main inlet 16, to either end of the main valve chamber and thence to either end of the main cylinder 2, as through passageway 19 or passageway 20.

It will also be noted that when the main valve A is to the left, as shownin Fig. 3, there is opened a passageway from the main cylinder 2, through passageway 26, between valve pistons A and A upwardly through passageway 27, to the left end of the pilot valve chamber 22. As said main piston 2' moves to the left the water in front of it is forced out through passageway 19 and to the exhaust. As soon as said main piston 2 passes the passageway 26, the water pressure-behind it is permitted, through said passageway 26, between main valve pistons A and A and passageway 27, to enter the left end of the pilot valve chamber 22 and to move said pilot valve B to the right. This operates to cut oil passageway 29 from the pilot valve chamber 22 and inlet 24, and to open passageway 30 so as to direct the inflow through pipe 2%, downwardly through passageway 30 into the space between partition member 31 and valve piston A thereby forcing the main valve member A to the right, and closing passageway 20 leading to the right end of the main cylinder 2, and opening passageway 19 for the inflow through passage space 17, which inflow operates to move the main plunger or piston 2 to the right. As the main valve member A has also been moved to the right, the passageways 26 from the main cylinder and 28 are in communication'between main valve pistons A and A The water to the right of the piston 2 is being forced out to the exhaust through passage 20, now in communication therewith through passage 34:. lVhen the main piston 2 has crossed passageway 26 the water moving said piston 2 is also permitted to pass through passageway 26, main valve chamber, passageway and to the right end of the pilot valve chamber 22, to move said pilot valve B to the left again, when the operation is repeated.

It will be noted. that the pilot valve memher and the main valve member are independent of each other, are disconnected from anything and are movable only by the inflow of water under sufficient pressure to move them and that the water between the pistons of the valve members tend to balance and steadv the movement of said valve members. The main valve member,

when in one position opens the inlet passage for the operating fluid to the main cylinder. As said main piston is moved in the main cylinder, toward the close of its movement in either direction it crosses and opens to water pressure a passageway to the pilot valve for operating the latter to change the inflow to the other side of the partition member of "the main valve, to move said main valve and to change the inflow of the supply to the opposite end of the main cylinder.

I am aware that many changes can be made in the invention as illustrated in the accompanying sheets of drawings without departing from the spirit thereof, and I do not, therefore, limit the invention to this showing, except as I may be limited by the hereto appended claims.

I claim,

1. In a hydraulic engine, in combination, a main cylinder and a single operating piston therein, a main valve cylinder and main valve member therein, a pilot valve cylinder and pilot valve member therein, means controlled by said main valve member for directing a supply of operating fluid to the opposite endsv of said main cylinder, means controlled by the movement of said pilot valve for directing a supply of operating fluid to the opposite ends of said main valve cylinder, and means controlled by the movements of said main operating piston and said main valve member for moving said pilot valve.

2. In a hydraulic engine, in combination, a main cylinder and a single operating piston therein, a main valve cylinder and main valve member therein, a pilot valve cylinder and pilot valve therein, means controlled by said main valve member for directing a supply of operating fluid through said main valve cylinder alternately to the opposite ends oi said. main cylinder, means controlled by the movement of said pilot valve for directing a supply of operating fluid alternately into different entrance ports to said main valve cylinder, and means controlled by the movements of said main operating piston and said main valve member for moving said pilot valve.

3. .A hydraulic engine of the character referred to comprising a body having therein a main cylinder and operating piston working therein, a main valve cylinder and main valve member working therein, a pilot valve cylinder and pilot valve member working therein, said body having a main inlet for operating fluid through said main valve cylinder to the opposite ends of said main cvlinder, controlled by said main valve, and also having a second inlet to different parts of said main valve cylinder for operating the main valve member, which second inlet is controlled by said pilot valve, and also a communication from said main cylinder through said main valve cylinder to the opposite ends of said pilot valve chamber, whereby movement of the main operating piston operates to allow operating fluid to pass alternately to the opposite ends of said ilot valve cylinder, substantially as descri d.

4. A hydraulic engine comprising a bodv having therein a main operating cylinder and operating piston moving therein, a main valve cylinder and main valve workiijf therein, and a pilot valve cylinder and p' ot valve member moving therein, with supply inlet opening to said main cylinder at its opposite ends, controlled bv said main valve member, and supply inlets to said main valve cylinder at two different places, controlled by said pilot valve member, and means controlled by said operating piston and said main valve for moving said pilot valve alternately in opposite directions, said body also having a discharge outlet from said main valve cylinder, substantially as described.

5. A hydraulic engine of the character referred to comprising in combination a body having a main cylinder and plunger piston moving therein With inlet ports opening into its opposite ends, a main valve cylinder and main valve moving therein and'with supply inlet opening for operating fluid leading to the inlet ports to said main cylinder and controlled by said main valve member, and a pilot valve cylinder and pilot valve member moving therein, and with inlet openin; therethrough to opposed ends of said main valve cylinder, controlled by said pilot valve, and means for alternately opening communication between said main cylinder, through said main valve cylinder, and said pilot valve cylinder at the opposite ends thereof, said main valve member and said pilot valve member being independently movable by water pressure, substantially as described.

6. In a hydraulic engine of the character referred to, in combination, a main operating cylinder and operating piston Working therein, a main valve cylinder and main valve Working therein, a pilot valve cylinder and pilot valve member working there in, a valve controlling the supply inlet for operating fluid through said main valve cylinder to said main cylinder, said valve having a valve-controlled by-pass outside the valve member to said pilot valve cylinder to supply operating fluid for moving said main valve member, and means controlled by said operating piston and said main valve chamber for moving said pilot valve to direct said operating fluid to said main valve cylinder, substantially as described.

7. In a hydraulic enginevof. the character referred to, in combination, a main cylinder and a double lunger piston moving therein, plunger cylinders for said plunger provided with receiving and discharging connections, a main valve cylinder and main valve moving therein, and having a supply inlet therethrough to the opposite ends of said main cylinder controlled alternately by said main valve member, a pilot valve cylinder and pilot valve member moving therein and controlling the supply of operating fluid to said main valve cylinder, means for regulating the: supply of operating fluid passing through said main valve cylinder to said main cylinder, and means for regulating the supply of operating fluid passing through said pilot valve cylinder for operating the main valve member, and means controlled by said plunger piston and said main valve member for moving said pilot valve alternately from one position to the other, substantially as described.

8. In a hydraulic engine of the character referred to, in combination, plunger cylinders and plungers working therein, a main cylinder for operating said plungers and a single operating piston therein, a main valve chamber and main valve member Working therein, a pilot valve chamber and pilot valve working therein, means for connecting a source of operating fluid into said main valve chamber with ports to the opposite ends of said main cylinder controlled by said main valve member,- means for connecting a source of operating fluid to said main valve chamber through said pilot valve chamber, controlled by said pilot valve, and means controlled by said plunger piston and said main valve member for alternately moving said pilot valve member to different 105 positions.

9. In a device of the character referred to, in combination, a main cylinder and a piston therein. a main valve cylinder and a plurality of connected valve pistons therein, a 110 pilot valve cylinder and a pilot valve therein, means forming passageways from the main valve cylinder to the main cylinder, controlled by the main valve member, means forming passageways from the pilot valve 115 cylinder to the main valve cylinder, controlled by the pilot valve, and means forming passageways from the main cylinder, through the main valve cylinder between said valve pistons to said pilot valve cyl- 120 inder.

10. In a device of the character referred to, a body structure having formed therein a main chamber, a main valve chamber and a pilot valve chamber, with communicating 125 passageways from the main valve chamber to the main chamber and to the pilot valve chamber, a main piston working in said main chamber, a pilot valve in said pilot valve chamber for controlling passageways there- 130 from to said main valve chamber, and a plurality of connected main valve pistons in said main valve chamber adapted to control the passageways trom said main valve chamber to said main chamber, and also to connect water pressure only applied thereto, said pilot valve controlling the admission of water to said main valve, said main valve controlling the admission of water to said main operating cylinder, and said main piston and said main valve mei'nber together controlling passageways from said main cylinder through said main valve chamber to said pilot valve chamber for the passage of water to move said pilot valve substantially as described.

12. In a device of the character referred to, a plurality of cylinders arranged one above the other, a plurality of connected pistons in the two upper cylinders and an operating piston in the other of said cylinders, means forming passageways between adjacent cylinders, and means forming passageways between the two outside' cylinders,

7 through the intermediate cylinder, and between the pistons therein, said passageways being adapted to be controlled by the pistons of the respective cylinders.

13. In a device of the character referred to, in combination, a main operating cylinder, an operating piston moving therein, a main valve casing having an inlet leading to the opposite ends of said main cylinder and an outlet adapted to communicate with the opposite ends of said main cylinder, a main valve movable in said main valve casing to alternately open communication between the opposite ends of said main cylinder and the inlet and outlet of said main valve casing, a pilot valve casing with communicating passageways from its opposite ends to said main valve casing and passageways therefrom to opposed ends of said main valve casing, a pilot valve movable in said pilot valve casing and adapted to be moved alternately to control said passageways to the opposed ends of said main valve casing, whereby to admit water for operating said main valve and means for alternately opening communication trom said main operating cylinder to the passageways leading to the opposite ends of said pilot valve casing, whereby the movement of said main piston operates to cause the movement of said pilot valve, substantially as described.

14. The combination with a fluid motor, of a fluid supply leading thereto, adjustable controlling means for said fluid supply for regulating the pressure of the supply of fluid to the motor, valve mechanism for the motor, controllable means for conducting fluid from said fluid supply to the valve mechanism for operating the same, said means leading from the supply conduit at a point therein relative to the first mentioned adjustable controlling means whereby the fluid supply to the valve mechanism may be adjusted and remain unetlected by the adjustment of said first mentioned controlling means.

15. In combination, a main cylinder and piston therein, a main valve casing and main valve therein, controllable means for admittinga supply of operating fluid through said main valve caslng to said main cylinder, means for admitting operating fluid to said main valve casing for operating said main valve, said means being connected with a source of supply of operating fluid independent of the controllable means for admitting operating fluid through said main valve casing to said main cylinder, whereby the pressure thereof can be maintained independently of the supply of operating fluid to said main cylinder, and means for regulating the pressure of the supply of fluid admitted to said main valve casing for moving said main valve.

16. A hydraulic engine comprising a body structure having therein a main operating cylinder and one or more plunger cylinders connected therewith, an operating piston working in said main cylinder and provided with one orvmore plungers working in said plunger cylinders, a main valve casing having a maininlet and a main outlet with passageways leading therefrom to said main cylinder at its opposite ends, a valve member movable therein and comprising a plurality of spaced pistons connected together as a unit and adapted to control said several passageways to and from said main valve casing, a pilot valve casing having inlet and outlet passageways communicating with said main valve casing, with supply inlet thereto, and a valve movable in said pilot valve casing and comprising a plurality of spaced pistons connected together as a unit and adapted to control the admission of operating fluid to said main valve casing, said several passageways and valve members being arranged to alternately open communication from the opposite ends of said main cylinder, through said main valve casing to the opposite ends of said pilot valve casing, whereby to admit operating fluid for moving said pilot valve, substantially as described.

17. A hydraulic engine of the character described comprising in combination a main cylinder, one or more plunger cylinders, an operating piston in said main cylinder, one or more plungers for said plunger cylinders operated by said main piston, a mam valve casing with inlet and outlet ports for operating fluid and with communicating passageways to the opposite ends of said main cylinder, a partition member in said main valve casing, a main valve member working in said main valve casing and comprising a plurality of pistons spaced apart on each side of said partition members and connected together to move as a unit with a connecting spindle working through said partition member, a pilot valve casing with inlet thereto and with communicating passageways to the opposite sides of said main valve casing and a pilot valve member moving in said pilot valve casing and comprising a plurality of spaced pistons connected to move as a unit and adapted to control said passageways to said main valve casing for operating fluid, and means for regulating the inflow of operating fluid to said pilot valve casing and to said main valve casing, substantially as described.

18. A hydraulic engine comprising in combination a main cylinder and an operating piston therein, a main valve casing and a main valve member therein, a pilot valve casing and a pilot valve therein, said main cylinder having supply ports thereto through said main valve casing, controlled by said main valve member, said pilot valve casing having communicating ports to said main valve casing, controlled by said pilot valve, and said main cylinder having communicating passageways with said pilot valve casing through said main valve casing, controlled by the movements of said main valve member.

19. In a device of the character referred to, in combination, a main cylinder, an operating piston therein, plunger cylinders con- -valve member, and

nectcd to the opposite ends of said main cylinder, plungers therein operatively connected to said operatin piston, a main valve cylinder having a dividing member intermediate its ends, and communicating at its opposite ends with the opposite ends of said main cylinder, main valve pistons in said valve cylinder and connected through said dividing member, a pilot valve cylinder, a pilot valve member working therein, said pilot valve cylinder having communieating passageways to said main valve cylinder at opposite sides of its dividing member, controlled by said pilot valve member, and means forming passageways from said main cylinder through said main valve cylinder at opposite sides of its dividing member, with said pilot valve cylinder, said passageways bein controlled by said main said main operating piston, substantially as described.

20. In a device of the character described, in combination, a main cylinder, an operating piston therein, a main valve casing, a 11min valve operating therein, a pilot valve casing. a pilot valve operating therein, means for connecting a supply of operating fluid through said main vali'e casing to said main cylinder, controlled by the movements of said main valve member, a gate valve for controlling the supply of operating fluid to said main valve casing, means for directing a supply of operating fluid through said pilot valve casing to said main valve casing for operating said main valve, controlled by said pilot valve, and a valve for controlling the ressure of said supply of operating fluid lbr operating said main valve, substantially as described.

Signed at Portland, Oregon, this 7th day of January, 1915.

EARL A. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

CLYDE EVANS, ADA E. Konmvnns. 

